Railway track switch controlling apparatus



Nov. 10, 1936.

E. M. ALLEN Y RAILWAY TRACK SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19,1935 km Q L F Q as SE3 Kw fiw mm \w Q ER as Q w l.. N am SN E M 1 E M NbR HIS ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICERAILWAY TRACK SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Application February 19,1935, Serial No. 7,233

13 Claims. (Cl. 246-3) My invention relates to railway track switchcontrolling apparatus, and more particularly to a means for safeguardingthe operation of a remotely controlled power operated switch underconditions where local operation of the switch is required.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form ofapparatus embodying my invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character T designates asection of single railway track provided With a track circuit having atrack relay designated by the reference character TR. The section Tcontains a track switch designated by the reference character W. Theswitch W, as here shown, connects to one end of a passing siding. To theleft of and. adjacent section T is a section of single track designatedby the reference character RA. The section RA is provided with a trackcircuit having a track relay designated by the reference character RAR.To the right of and adjacent section T is a section of single trackdesignated by the reference character LA. The section LA is providedwith a track circuit having a track relay designated by the referencecharacter LAR. Each of the track circuits for sections RA, T and LAincludes a track battery designated by the reference character B.

The switch W may be operated by any suitable remote controlled meanssuch, for example, as a motor M comprising an armature l and a fieldwinding 2. The switch W is also provided with local control means hereillustrated as two mechanical levers, H and S, which, when operated insequence, permits the switch to be operated by hand. As will be pointedout in detail hereinafter, lever S controls apparatus which at timesprevents control of the switch by its remote controlled means and at thesame time inserts a mechanical medium between the switch and lever H,whereby lever H will operate the switch. In the form here showndiagrammatically, this mechanical medium is a link 3 operated by themanually operable selector lever S. When lever S occupies its normal orleft-hand position the link 3 couples the switch W with the motor M.When lever S is moved to its righthand or reverse position, the switch Wis disconnected from the motor M and is connected with the lever H whichmay then be manipulated to operate the switch,

The switch governs three contacts ll, 23 and 24 in accordance with theswitch position, by any usual and well-known means. LBVBIS is providedwith a contact 4 which is closed if and only if lever S is in its normalposition.

The motor M is controlled by means remote from the switch, through themedium of two switch relays NW and RW and apparatus V effective undersafe conditions for governing the motor to move the switch to itsreverse position when relay RW is energized, and to move the switch toits normal position when relay NW is energized. As here shown, therelays NW and RW are controlled from a remote point by contact 5 of amanually operable switch lever Ll, but these relays may be governed froma remote point by any other suitable means such, for example, as shownin an application by L. V. Lewis, Serial No. 373,675, filed June 25,1929. Apparatus V may, for example, embody the switch controlarrangement shown in said Lewis application.

Signals designated by the reference characters RHA and RHB controleastbound train movements from the single track section over the switchto the main track section or siding, re spectively, and signalsdesignated by the reference characters LHA and LHB control trainmovements over the switch in the opposite or westbound direction.Signals LHA, LHB, RHA and RHB are controlled by signal control relaysdesignated by the reference characters LAHR, LBHR, RAHR and RBHR,respectively, which in turn are controlled by directional signal relaysdesignated by the reference characters RH and LH. The relays RH and LHare, as here shown, controlled from a remote point by a contact 6actuated by a manually operable signal lever L2, but may also becontrolled in any other suitable manner, such for example as disclosedin the previously mentioned application of Lloyd V. Lewis, Serial No.373,675, filed June 25, 1929. When any of the signal control relays,such as LAHR, is deenergized, the corresponding signal displays a stopindication, and when such relay is energized, the corresponding signalis caused to display a proceed indication. In order to simplify thedrawing, I have omitted the wellknown circuits for the control of thesignal lamps or mechanisms by the signal control relays.

The reference characters RMR and LMR designate approach locking relaysfor eastbound and westbound trafiic, respectively, which, as will beexplained more in detail hereinafter, prevent operation of the switchand signals under certain dangerous traific conditions.

Associated with the approach locking relays is a time element relayhaving a slow pick-up characteristic and designated by the referencecharacter TER. The relay TER has a back contact 33 which is closed onlywhen the relay is in its initial condition and front contacts H and I9which are closed only when the relay is in its operated condition.

The reference character KR designates a switch indicating relay having aneutral armature which is energized only if the position of the switchis in agreement with the control relay NW or RW, and a polar armaturewhich assumes a normal or reverse position corresponding to the positionof the switch.

The reference character WL designates a lock relay which is employed,when the switch is being manually operated, as will hereinafter beexplained, for deenergizing the switch control relays NW and RW and fordeenergizing the approach locking relays RMR and LMR, as well as forpreventing the operation of the time element relay FER.

I wish to point out here that, in order to simplify the drawing, therelay contacts have not in all instances been placed directly under therelay actuating such contacts. I have, however, provided each suchcontact with a reference character having a suitable distinguishingprefix corresponding to the reference character of the actuating relay.

The approach locking relay RMR is provided with a pick-up circuit whichpasses from terminal X of a suitable source of current, through backcontact 1 of relay RAHR, back contact 8 of relay RBHR, front contact 9of approach track relay RAR, and relay RMR to terminal 0 of the samesource of current. The pick-up circuit also includes back contact ll] ofrelay TR and front contact H of time element relay TER each of whichbridges contact 9 of relay RAR. The approach locking relay RMR is alsoprovided with a stick circuit which includes back contacts I and 8 ofrelays RAHR and RBI-IR, respectively, as well as front contact l2 ofrelay WL and front point of contact l3 of relay RMR.

The approach locking relay LMR is provided with a similar pick-upcircuit which passes from terminal X through back contact it of relayLAHR, back contact l5 of relay LBHR, front contact l6 of relay LAR,switch indicating contact I1, and relay LMR to terminal 0. The pick-upcircuit also includes back contact 18 of relay TR and front contact l9of relay TER each of which bridges contact l6 of relay LAR and switch indicating contact ll. The approach locking relay LMR is also providedwith a stick circuit which includes contacts M and I5 of relays LAHR andLBHR, respectively, as well as front contact 29 of relay WL and frontpoint of contact 2| of relay LMR.

The time element relay TER is provided with two operating circuits. Onecircuit includes contact of relay RAHR, contact 8 of relay RBHR, contactI2 of relay WL, back point of contact l3 of relay RMR and front contact22 of relay LMR. The other operating circuit includes contact M of relayLAHR, contact 15 of relay LBHR, contact 20 of relay WL and back point ofcontact 2| of relay LMR.

The switch indicating relay KR is provided with a circuit which includescontacts 23 and 24 actuated by and corresponding to the position of theswitch, as well as front contact 25 of relay NW and front contact 26 ofrelay RW. 7

The relay WL is provided with a pick-up circuit which includes contact 4actuated by lever S, front contact 2'! of relay RMR and front contact 28of relay LMR, and with a stick circuit which includes contact 4 andfront contact 29 of relay WL.

The relays NW and RW, in addition to being controlled by contact 5, arealso controlled by front contact 30 of the relay WL.

The apparatus V is provided with a normal operating circuit whichincludes front contact 3| of relay TR, front contact 32 of relay RMR,front contact 33 of relay LMR and front contact 34 of relay NW, and witha reverse operating circuit which follows the same path as that justdescribed for normal operation except that front contact 35 of relay RWis substituted for front contact 34 of relay NW.

The relay RAHR is provided with a circuit which passes from terminal Xthrough front contact 36 of relay LMR, back point of contact 31 of relayLH, back contact 38 of relay TER, front contact 39 of relay TR, frontpoint of contact 30 of relay RH, front neutral contact M of relay KR,normal point of polar contact 42 of relay KR, front contact 43 of relayLAR, and relay RAHR to terminal 0. The relay RBHR is provided with acircuit which passes from terminal X over the same path as recited forrelay RAHR including front neutral contact 4| of relay KR, thencethrough reverse point of polar contact 42 of relay KR and relay RBHR toterminal 0.

The relay LAHR is provided with a circuit which passes from terminal Xthrough front con tact 44 of relay RMR, front contact 45 of relay RAR,back point of contact 40 of relay RH, front contact 39 of relay TR, backcontact 38 of relay TER, front point of contact 31 of relay LH, frontpoint of neutral contact 46 of relay KR, normal contact of polar contact4'! of relay KR, and relay LAHR to terminal 0. The relay LBHR isprovided with a circuit which passes through the same path as recitedfor relay LAHR except that it includes the reverse instead of the normalpoint of polar contact 4'! of relay KR.

Having thus described, in general, the arrangement of the various partsof one form of apparatus embodying my invention, I will now explain itsoperation.

With all of the apparatus in its normal condition, as shown in thedrawing, I shall assume that a train, desiring to make a number ofswitching movements over the switch W, enters section RA. The entranceof the train into section RA releases approach track relay RAR therebyopening a front contact 9 of relay RAR in the pick-up circuit for relayRMR. Relay RMR does not release, however, because its stick circuit isclosed through back contact 1 of relay RAHR, back contact 8 of relayRBHR, front contact 12 of relay WL and front point of contact l3 ofrelay RMR. I shall also assume that the train is brought to a stop atsignal RHA; and a trainman proceeds to the switch W and reversesselector lever S to condition the switch for manual operation, sincelocal control of the switch has been found to be more convenient thanremote control for switching movements. The manipulation of lever S toits reverse position, as previously described, moves link 3 todisconnect the switch from motor M and to couple the switch with handthrow lever H; and also opens contact 4.

The opening of contact 4 deenergizes relay WL, which relay opens itsfront contact 30 in the control circuit for relays NW and RW, therebyreleasing relay NW. Since relays NW and RW are both deenergized andfront contacts 34 and 35 are opened, no current can be supplied to theapparatus V and operation of the switch W by the remote controlledapparatus is prevented. Front contact I2 of relay WL is also now openedand relay RMR is released.

When the relay NW became released, the control circuit for the relay KRbecame opened at contact 25 of the relay NW, therefore, no signal can becaused to indicate proceed.

Since the switch W cannot now respond to the manipulation of lever LIand no signal can be cleared, the switch W is in a safe condition formanual operation.

It will now be assumed that the switching movements have been completed,that the selector lever has been returned to its normal position, andthat the train has entered the section T preparatory to entering sectionLA. The restoration of lever S to its normal position closes contact 4.When the train entered section T the relay TR released, thereby closingits back contact ID. to establish the pick-up circuit for relay RMR. Theenergization of relay RMR closes its own front contact 2'! to energizerelay WL. The energization of relay WL closes its own front contact 30to restore relays RW and NW to control by contact 5 of lever LI.Apparatus V, however, cannot be energized because front contact 3| oftrack relay TR remains open as long as the train occupies section T. Theenergization of front contact 25 of relay NW reestablishes the controlcircuit for relay KR so that relay KR is again energized if the contacts25 and 26 actuated by the switch are in their normal positions. As soonas the train clears section T, front contact 3| of relay TR closes,which restores the control of the apparatus V to relays RW and NW.

The energization of the relay KR and the relay TR causes front contactsII and 46 of the relay KR and front contact 39 of the relay TR each tobecome closed so that the signal control circuits are again established.

Under remote control operation, the approach locking relays RMR and LMRbecome deenergized upon the energization of any one of the associatedsignal control relays. The deenergization of either relay RMR or relayLMR prevents the operation of the switch and also prevents the clearingof the opposing signals. Assuming that signal RHA has been caused toindicate proceed to govern a train occupying section RA, it will be seenthat relay RMR will be deenergized and may be again energized, providedsignal RHA is caused to indicate stop, by any one of three methods.First, by the clearing of section RA; secondly, by the occupancy of thedetector section T, and lastly, by the completed operation of the timeelement relay TER. If it is desired to release the locking of the switchby the third method, such, for example, as would be necessary when theposition of the switch is to be changed before the above mentioned trainreaches section T, signal RHA would be placed in the stop condition,which would complete a circuit to initiate the operation of the relayTER. Upon the expiration of a given time interval, which would preventthe possibility of the route being changed immediately in the face of anapproaching train, the relay TER will have completed its operation toclose contact I2 to establish a pick-up circuit for relay RMR, therebyreleasing the locking of the switch. Since, however, one purpose of myinvention is to insure, after manual operation of the switch, therestoration of the switch to control by the remote control means, if andonly if, either the detector section becomes occupied or the approachsection becomes unoccupied, the control circuit for relay TER. is openedby front contact I2 of relay WL, upon conditioning the switch for manualoperation, and relay TER is not permitted to operate as long as relay WLremains deenergized.

The apparatus, including relay LMR, operates for a train approachingswitch W from section LA, or from the siding, in the same manner as thatjust described for a train approaching from the opposite direction withthe exception that, with the switch reversed, the pick-up circuit forthe relay LMR would be opened by switch indicating contact I! instead ofby front contact I6 of relay LAR.

While I have shown the approach locking relays to be controlled over onetrack circuit in approach to the switch and to be released by theoccupancy of the detector section, it is understood that these circuitsmay each include more than one track circuit.

From the foregoing explanation it will be seen that I have provided asimple, reliable and economical means for safeguarding the manualcontrol of power operated railway track switch. When the switch isconditioned for manual operation by the reversal of the lever S, thepower is disconnected from the switch actuating mechanism and the signalcircuits are interrupted to hold the signals in the stop condition. 'Myinvention further provides for the restoration of the switch to poweroperation, after being manually controlled, if and only if the selectingapparatus is returned to its normal condition, and then only if thedetector section is occupied and subsequently cleared, or if thedetector section is not occupied, when the approach sections areunoccupied. A signal may be displayed for governing trafiic passing overthe switch if and only if the switch is under the control of the remotecontrolled apparatus.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatusembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway track switch, means including a relaycontrolled from a point remote from said switch for operating theswitch, apparatus for conditioning said switch for local operation, anormally energized switch indicating relay, a signal for governingtraffic passing over said switch, means including said switch indicating relay for controlling said signal, and means including said firstmentioned relay for deenergizing said switch indicating relay to preventsaid signal from displaying a proceed indication when said apparatus isactuated to condition said switch for local operation.

2. In combination, a railway track switch in a section of track having atrack circuit, a power mechanism for at times operating said switch, amanual device for at other times operating said switch, selectingapparatus having a normal position in which said switch is conditionedfor power operation and a reverse position in which said switch isconditioned for manual operation, a normally energized lock relay, meansfor deenergizing said lock relay upon the operation of said selectingapparatus to its reverse position, means for disconnecting power fromsaid mechanism when said lock relay is deenergized, means for energizingsaid lock relay when said track circuit is occupied if said selectingapparatus is restored to its normal position, and means for restoringpower to said mechanism when said lock relay is energized if said trackcircuit is unoccupied.

3. In combinatioin, a first section of railway track having a trackcircuit, an adjacent section of railway track also having a trackcircuit, a railway track switch in said first section, power apparatusfor at times operating said switch, manual apparatus for at other timesoperating said switch, a selector lever having a normal position inwhich said switch is conditioned for power operation and a reverseposition in which said switch is conditioned for manual operation, anormally energized lock relay, means for deenergizing said lock relay todisconnect power from said switch when said selector lever is operatedto its reverse position, an approach locking relay controlled in part bythe track circuit of said adjacent section, means for deenergizing saidap proach locking relay if said adjacent section is occupied when saidlock relay is deenergized, means for energizing said approach lockingrelay when said detector section is occupied, means for energizing saidlock relay when said approach locking relay is energized if saidselector lever is in its normal position, and means for restoring powerto said switch when said lock relay is energized if said first sectionis unoccupied.

4. In combination, a railway track switch, POW-1 er apparatus includinga normal switch control relay and a reverse switch control relay for attimes operating said switch, manual apparatus for at other timesoperating said switch, a selector lever having a normal position inwhich said switch is conditioned for power operation and a reverseposition in which said switch is conditioned for manual operation, acontact closed only when said selector lever is in its normal position,and means including said contact for insuring the deenergization of eachof said normal and reverse switch control relays to prevent theapplication of power to said switch while the switch is being manuallyoperated.

5. In combination, a railway track switch, power apparatus including anormal switch control relay and a reverse switch control relay for attimes operating said switch, manual apparatus for at other timesoperating said switch, a selector lever having a normal position inwhich said switch is conditioned for power operation and a reverseposition in which said switch is conditioned for manual operation, acontact closed only when said selector lever is in its normal position,a normally energized lock relay, means including said contact fordeenergizing said lock relay to insure the deenergization of each ofsaid normal and reverse switch control relays thereby preventing theapplication of power to said switch while the switch is being manuallyoperated.

6. In combination, a stretch of railway track including a detectorsection and an approach section having a track circuit, a switch in saiddetector section, means controlled from a point remote from said switchfor operating the switch, a normally energized approach locking relayeifective when deenergized for locking said switch, a time elementrelay, means for at times initiating the operation of said time elementrelay when said approach locking relay is deenergized, means forenergizing said approach locking relay to release the locking of saidswitch when said time element relay completes its operation, apparatuseffective when operated to a particular position for conditioning saidswitch for local operation, means responsive to concurrent operation ofsaid apparatus to such particular position and occupancy of saidapproach section for deenergizing said approach locking relay, and meanseffective when said apparatus occupies said particular position toprevent operation of said time element relay notwithstanding thedeenergization of said approach locking relay.

1. In combination, a railway track switch, means controlled from a pointremote from said switch for operating the switch, a normally energizedapproach locking relay efiective when deenergized for locking saidswitch, a time element relay, means for at times initiating theoperation of said time element relay when said approach locking relay isdeenergized, means for energizing said approach locking relay to releasethe locking of said switch when said time element relay completes itsoperation, apparatus for conditioning said switch for local operation, asecond locking relay responsive to the operation of said apparatus tocondition said switch for local operation and effective for at timesdeenergizing said approach locking relay without initiating theoperation of said time element relay.

8. In combination with a railway track switch, remote controlled meansincluding a pair of switch control relays for at times operating saidswitch, manual apparatus for at other times operating said switch, aselector lever having one position in which said switch is conditionedfor operation by said remote controlled means and another position inwhich said switch is conditioned for operation by said manual apparatus,a lock relay deenergized when said selector lever is in such otherposition, and circuits each including a front contact of said lock relayfor each of said switch control relays.

9. In combination, a railway track switch, remote controlled means forat times operating said switch, means local to said switch for at othertimes operating said switch, a selector lever having one position inwhich said switch is conditioned for operation by said remote controlledmeans and another position in which said switch is conditioned foroperation by said local means, a contact closed only when said selectorlever is in such one position, a normally energized approach lockingrelay, a stick relay effective when deenergized to disable said remotecontrolled means, and a pick-up and a stick circuit for said stick relayeach including said contact, said pickup circuit also including a frontcontact of said approach locking relay.

10. In combination with a railway track switch, power apparatus for attimes operating said switch, manual apparatus for at other timesoperating said switch, a selector lever having one position in whichsaid switch is conditioned for power operation and another position inwhich said switch is conditioned for operation by said manual apparatus,a lock relay deenergized when said selector lever is in such otherposition, a normally energized approach locking relay, a pickup circuitfor said approach locking relay, and a stick circuit for said approachlocking relay including a front contact of said lock relay.

11. In combination, a railway track switch, a selector lever having anormal position in which saidswitch is conditioned for operation byremote controlled means and a reverse position in which said switch isconditioned for operation by local means, a normally energized approachlocking relay, a second look relay effective when deenergized to disablesaid remote controlled means, means for deenergizing said second relaywhen said selector lever is moved to its reverse position, means forenergizing said second relay when said selector lever is returned to itsnormal position provided said approach locking relay is energized, atime element relay effective when operated to energize said approachlocking relay, and an operating circuit for said time element relayincluding a front contact of said second rel'ay as well as a backcontact of said approach locking relay.

12. In combination, a railway track switch, a normal and a reversemagnet for controlling movements of said switch to normal and reversepositions respectively, a circuit for said normal magnet and a circuitfor said reverse magnet, remote controlled means for at times governingsaid circuits, means local to said switch for at other times governingthe switch, apparatus for selecting between said remote controlled meansand said local means, a lock relay controlled in part by said selectingapparatus, and a contact of said lock relay included in said circuit forthe normal magnet as Well as in said circuit for the reverse magnet.

13. In combination, a first section of railway track, a second sectionof railway track including a railway traflic governing device, a memberfor transmitting an operating force to said device, remotely controlledmeans for at times operating said member, locally controlled means forat other times operating said member, apparatus including said memberfor selecting between said remotely controlled means and said locallycontrolled means, a lock relay having a normal position, means forchanging the position of said lock relay to prevent operation of saidremotely controlled means when said selecting apparatus is operated topermit local operation of the member, and means responsive to traificconditions in both said sections for restoring said lock relay to itsnormal position to again permit operation of said remotely controlledmeans provided said selecting apparatus is then in its initialcondition.

EARL M. ALLEN.

